Two key players out of Suriname match

by

Patrick Planter/ Photographer
Reggae Boyz engaging in a training session at the Stadium East field yesterday.

Whitmore

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Captain Je-vaughn Watson and Kemar Lawrence have been ruled out of Jamaica's crucial Caribbean Cup qualifier against Suriname at the National Stadium next Sunday.

Watson has been sidelined for six to eight weeks following an hernia operation. Lawrence picked up a hamstring injury in the New York Red Bulls play-off game against Montreal Impact last weekend.

Despite the injuries coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore is upbeat and is convinced that Jamaica will emerge victorious on Sunday.

"We know that once the national team has a game it's going to be tough. We overcame Guyana and now we are looking forward to the Suriname game. We don't want to leave anything up to chance," he said.

With Watson out, goalkeeper, Andre Blake will lead the team team and he has welcome the responsibility and does not believes it's any pressure on him.

"It's my first captaincy at the national level, it's a privilege, so my job now is to try and get the players on the same page so we can go out and do what we have to do. For me it's no added pressure, I'm a leader and I will just be me," he commented.

Jamaica and Suriname are tied on three points after both scored victories over Guyana.

Whitmore knows it is important to win, to not only to get into the Caribbean Cup but to get to the Gold Cup.

"The Gold Cup is basically our World Cup so we have to do what we have to do be there ... So far we are OK but with the absence of certain players we are a bit unbalanced but it's workable and we are looking for a positive result," he said.